ABOUT
Our Calling
School needs a redesign. Despite the conversation to the contrary, our schools aren’t broken: they are perfectly designed to produce their current results. But we think school can be different.
At The Conscious Schools Project, we believe education can unlock human potential—if we’re bold enough to reimagine teaching and learning. We partner with schools to replace outdated practices with fresh, vital approaches.
Our mission is to transform schools by advancing practices that improve teaching and make educators more mindful and skillful.
Adaptability.
Designed to evolve, a conscious school continuously adapts to meet changing needs, respond to the broader educational landscape, and incorporate societal changes. Teachers are encouraged to experiment with new teaching methods, tools, and approaches, adapting as they discover what works best for students. Feedback loops involving students and staff provide regular input, supporting innovation and growth.
Reflection
Regular, dynamic feedback is fundamental to a conscious school’s growth. By using both qualitative and quantitative data, the school continuously assesses its impact and makes necessary adjustments. Teachers engage in peer reviews, students share input on their experiences, and administrators seek feedback from all stakeholders, fostering a culture of ongoing reflection and improvement.
Our Beliefs
We believe in the power and potential of conscious schools. A conscious school is an intentional ecosystem of continuous learning.
Freedom.
Education done well is a liberating process. The freedom conscious schools aspire to is one marked by awareness, skill, and care among students and teachers alike. It is a capacity which allows a person to thrive within changing conditions.
Possibility. Conscious teaching and learning happens in the tension between ‘what is’ and ‘what is not’. We call this tension possibility. To teach from possibility is to help students be responsible for the present and aware of the perpetually emerging future.
Intentionality.
In a conscious school, intentionality leads to freedom. Whether fostering independent, creative learners or nurturing a community of inquiry or committing to community service, as a central guide. This vision grounds the school’s decisions and actions, ensuring that as the school grows or faces new challenges, everyone remains aligned with its core mission.Learning Paths.
A conscious school supports personalized learning paths. Foundational skills and knowledge serve as a base, but learning is tailored to individual student interests and strengths. Conscious Schools prioritize, project-based, inquiry-based, and mixed aged learning allowing students to explore and grow in ways that resonate with them. They also blur traditional subject boundaries, promoting interdisciplinary learning and collaboration. Collaboration is foundational, enabling both students and teachers to work across disciplines and create richer learning experiences.
Our Approach
Big Ideas
We host a bold, broad conversation about the potential of conscious teaching and learning practices. Through a mix of research, writing, and event offerings, we invite educators to deepen their practice and refine their craft.
Partnership
We partner with schools to offer best-in-class support to schools and school systems. Every leader at Conscious Schools is a school-tested, expert educator. Each serves not only as an advisor, but whole-heated partner in school transformation work.
Network
Remaking schools will require the aligned efforts of good hearts and minds across the country. We create in-person and online spaces where people can connect, exchange ideas, engage in experiments, and grow together.
Our People
Our team is a collective of powerhouses. We operate as a freelancer network, where every Conscious Schools professional retains their full independence and autonomy. Every member of The Conscious Schools Project is a domain expert, bringing specialized knowledge to the table. Meet a few of the exceptional individuals who make our work possible below!
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Nathan Smalley, Ph.D.
FOUNDER
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Cherese Brauer, M.Ed.
SENIOR CONSULTANT
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Lindsay Dapp Kern, B.A.
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
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Jessica Escobedo, B.S.
CHIEF OF OPERATIONS
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Melissa Gall, M.Ed.
SENIOR CONSULTANT
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Jennifer Keyte, M.Ed., MSW, LCSW.
SENIOR CONSULTANT
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Aja Settles, M.Ed.
SENIOR CONSULTANT
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Carlo Schmidt, M.Div.
SENIOR CONSULTANT
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Lauren Whitfield, Ed.D.
SENIOR CONSULTANT